- BREAKING NEWS UPDATES
- GET NEWS YOUR WAY
- Receive news updates to your inbox or mobile device
- TIMES-PICAYUNE PHOTOS
-
Around New Orleans
Around New Orleans
- TIMES-PICAYUNE VIDEO
-
Les Milespress conference Oct. 13, 2008
- TIMES-PICAYUNE MULTIMEDIA
-
- AP LOUISIANA NEWS
-
• Tropical depression expected to strengthen 10/14/2008, 1:44 a.m. CDT
• Saints hope they've ended error-prone ways 10/13/2008, 6:15 p.m. CDT
• Arguments to Supreme Court on investigation 10/13/2008, 6:12 p.m. CDT
- AP VIDEO
-
Lawmakers say Jindal will have to rebuild bridge after veto
by Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune
Tuesday July 01, 2008, 10:13 PM
BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal will have to repair his credibility after reneging on his promise to lawmakers not to veto a pay raise doubling their salaries, some of his key legislative leaders said Tuesday.
Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, and House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said Jindal's sudden about-face on the pay raise will make it hard for some lawmakers to believe him in the future.
"He needs to rebuild trust and do a better job of articulating his position," said Chaisson, who promised he will continue to work with the governor on key issues for the state. "Just be honest with us."
Peterson said there were four times the governor or his aides could have put the brakes on the raise by announcing his objections to it: when the bill was in the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, on the Senate floor, in the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs or on the House floor. But there was never any opposition expressed by the administration, she said.
"I received yellow notes on a lot of things" but not a pay raise, Peterson said, referring to the bright pastel paper used by the governor's office to send notes to lawmakers.
"What does your word mean?" Peterson asked. "How do you trust a person or believe he will keep his word? .¤.¤. His integrity is in question. .¤.¤. I am fine with the decision he made, but he needs to be a little more attuned to the process in the future."
Chaisson said Jindal could have headed off the controversy by telling lawmakers from the outset that he was against the raise. "The time to stand up and say 'no' should have come before it came to a vote," he said. Chaisson said there needs to be better communications between Jindal and his staff and the Legislature.
The Jindal administration did not respond to requests for comments.
Jindal has said he was leaving the matter up to the Legislature even though his campaign literature promised to stop such a raise. That put the governor in the middle of the firestorm as voters flooded radio talk show phone lines and began filing recall petitions, driving him to reverse course and issue the veto.
Senate Bill 672 by Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, would have bumped legislators' base salaries from $16,800 to $37,500 immediately, with an automatic annual cost-of-living boost based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
It also would have allowed lawmakers to continue to receive their daily $143 allowance every day they are in session. The per diem varies with the federal per diem rate. The bill also would have kept intact the $6,000 annual unvouchered expense allowance.
Given the present climate, Chaisson said, lawmakers "will probably let it go for the next 20 years" without trying again for a pay raise. The last base-pay increase for lawmakers was 28 years ago.
Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, who voted for the pay increase, said he agreed with Jindal's veto. He said about a dozen House members individually called on Jindal to veto the pay bill after it passed. "In retrospect, it was not a good idea and we did not make a case for it with the public," Burns said. "It created an unnecessary distraction and needed to be undone."
Sen. Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth, said the Jindal administration has alienated lawmakers. "He accomplished in five months what it took Buddy Roemer two years to do" in turning lawmakers against him as governor.
The pay raise bill was "one of the lessons learned" by a rookie governor and a largely rookie Legislature, said Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, a nonpartisan government watchdog group. He said if Jindal had spelled out what raise amount he could live with, the debacle may not have flared up.
Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, said the veto "will leave some hurt feelings and strained relationships, but I don't expect them to throw sand in the gears" of future Jindal proposals.
"It will add to the power struggle" between the Legislature and the governor that cropped up in the session, Brandt said. "It is going to make governing a little trickier."
Capital bureau chief Robert Travis Scott contributed to this report.
Ed Anderson can be reached at eanderson@timespicayune.com or 225.342.5810.
Note to Morons in OUR legislature who pushed through outrageous rewards for a thus failed recovery...
The people have the governor's back and are going to hold you accountable with your shenanigans!!
Now resign, or, focus on inclusive, just recovery.
Mr. Chaisson, do you folks in the legislature read the papers or listen to talk radio. If you cannot, get family or friends to do it for you. Its called taking the pulse of the people. We all knew Jindal was against it. He just did not have the courage to veto it, until many of you begged him to do it. I think that is what is called, pulling your butts out of the sling. Now hopefully many of you all will be recalled. It is what we call making an example out of some of you.
I don't get how these morons (legislators) think they are entitled to point the finger at Jinda. They were making all sorts of back room deals in order to get a bill that was clearly designed to help only themselves, and was opposed by virtually every citizen in the state; and now they're mad that the govenor did the right thing when he vetoed it. I get that he originally said he'd stay out of it, but the problem is that sometmes you want to stay out of it, you intend to stay out of it, and then you come to the realization that it's your job to get in the middle of it and fix the situation.
As Queen Ann said, "We didn't HAVE to bring that bill..." You're damn right you didn't. But you did it anyway. And let's be clear, Jindal wasn't the one who made you--- your greed did.
Hey McPherson, I thought legislators worked for the people so how can you say lawmakers would be turned against Jindal? You do what your constituents want you to do.
Well if we recall all of them no good scumbags....We will have all new people in there and won't have to rebuild any bridges.
Lets go forward with the recall.
PERHAPS NOW IS THE TIME FOR RECALLS ON THESE TWO IDIOTS ALSO >>>>>>
Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, and House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans
Remember that once explained to their constituents, due to all their hard work, the people were ok with the raise. It was only because we didn't understand the magnitude of their suffering that we opposed it.
And it was just a bunch of radio folk sounding the bell anyway, not the generous citizens of Louisiana who do not generally wish for their elected officials to suffer the horrors of poverty as they currently do.
As Robert Wooley once said, this is just a pimple on a bee's arse.
If that is the way Joe McPherson feels, he should be recalled along with anyone else who feels that way.
I maybe wrong but I thought the legislators were sent to Baton Rouge to represent the people.The people spoke loud and clear about this raise and you didn't listen.Remember,you received someone's vote to get to Baton Rouge.Now,you have let it be known that you will make a deal with the devil to get what you want and screw your constituents. Well, what goes around comes around. You all got played.If you want more money, resign your seat and go get a full time job.Stop pimping the people to pad you pockets.Its done! Get over it or resign. You have a choice. The peoples' vote will count.You can't take that away.
As a student of history, I used to wonder how in the world so many people throughout the ages allowed themselves to be brainwashed and manipulated by a single dictator.
Tvita, your comment at 11:00PM that McPherson, who voted against the raise, should be recalled for expressing his opinion is the sort of simple minded, follow the leader mentality that leads the masses into the trap door of fascism.
" Jindal will have to rebuild bridges with legis." Not as big or as many as the legislators are going to have to build. Mine has burned his down, and I do not see any lumber around, or trees.
HEY LEGISLATORS!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR JOB THE WAY IT IS: RESIGN!!!!!!!
YOU ARE THE PROBLEM !!!
YOU CAN BLAME TALK RADIO, BUE WE HAVE THE INTERNET AND
WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY OF YOUR CRAP ANY MORE!!
WAIT AND SEE CHAISSON AND CARTER PETERSON !!
WE WILL NOT FORGET THIS!!
GET WITH THE PROGRAM OR GET OUT!!
THE CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA ARE BECOMING AN ANGRY MOB BECAUSE OF YOUR GREED AND SELFISHNESS!
BEWARE LEGISLATORS! EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL COME BACK TO YOU!
AM I MAD? YOU BET YOUR ASS I AM!!
Legislators - - you just do not get it. The ego trips are unbelievable.
You work for the people of Louisiana - we pay your salary. You would think that you guys would be a "little more attuned to the process".
Joel Chaisson, my rep, is way out of line in voting "yes" for the pay raise. But his remarks about the governor are right on the money. Jindal changed positions three different times on this issue alone. His word is worthless and he clearly cannot be trusted. That's what Chaisson said, and he is right.
Our legislators have stepped way over the line and should pay the price for it. But they did not insult us by lying right in our faces as Jindal has done. Moreover, I have a hard time understanding how Jindal can maintain such high voter approval seeing the way he has conducted himself for the last two weeks.
Humbug.
"Never any opposition by the administration". She is a Liar.
REMEMBER SB543 - The legislature also sought to exempt itself from answering to the ethics commission for the duration of their time in office. And from answering to any other court - both civil and criminal. Sen Quinn tried to slip that gem through.
Last year they tried to pass a law that would have allowed any parent to be labeled a child abductor if they picked up their child's medical records or school records or birth certificate. Or if they sold a house; terminated a lease. Or even if they just had a relative who lived out of state.
This year they kept in place laws that allowed and made additional ways that 100% of a persons income can be taken as child support.
They refused to update the Self Support Reserve in the child support tables despite their economist making yet another proposal for them to do so. The amount is still stuck at the 1991 Federal Poverty level for a single person. That's $551/month by the way.
IMPEACH THEM ALL.
Right now I wouldn't want to be in Jindal's place. He's got the legislature ticked off because they had a deal. Now they're not going to support anything he's asking them for. The people are mad at him because he has shown them he has no backbone. Nothing he can do will be right from this day forward. No matter what the man does someone is going to disagree with him. I think it's good that the voters have finally got some backbone themselves. They should go full steam ahead with this recall and clean house. It should have been done many times before, then perhaps the state of LA wouldn't be in the shape it's in today.
The legislators need to stop worrying about Jindal rebuilding a bridge with the Legislature and worry MORE about how they're going to save their political careers from angry voters.
Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, who voted for the pay increase, said he agreed with Jindal's veto. He said about a dozen House members individually called on Jindal to veto the pay bill after it passed. "In retrospect, it was not a good idea and we did not make a case for it with the public," Burns said. "It created an unnecessary distraction and needed to be undone."
Wait a minute, let me get this straight: this pig at the trough VOTED for the pay raise, yet agreed with the veto? Huh? How does someone make a right turn and a left turn at the same time? This guy is clearly talking out of BOTH sides of his mouth.
What a hypocrite! Hey Burns! We can't trust what YOU SAY EITHER!!
Please people, I hope this guy is at the top of the recall list.
The recall effort is staying the course. Just because the governor vetoed the bill, does not mean a free pass. Wrong is wrong and right is right. Attorneys do not need a pay raise at taxpayer expense in these times of increasing cost. Updates soon. If you are an active registered voter of this district then you can sign the recall petition. All others who want to volunteer are most welcomed. Remember what Thomas Jefferson said, "Public offices were not made for private convenience." http://recalllopintonow.com/
Louisiana!
I am so proud of you. If you keep making your voices be heard. things will change !!!
watching in STL MO
If this recall is successful LA will make history and be the talk of this country. This time it will be the talk of the country because of something good. It's time we made our voices heard and ring loud and clear throughout the state that we're tired of this behavior of our elected politicians and we're not going to take it anymore. I say FULL STEAM AHEAD!
If the job does not pay enough, then do not run for office. I think the "fringe" benefits far out weigh the pay and this is why so many want the job. All of them need to get out if it is not enough money. Bring on the recall for all of them including the gov. I agree with sleepfriend all the way
Chaisson needs to remember they were elected to represent us ...... jindal did what he should have done ....... they should be all working to gain our trust
I dedicate this to our legislators and most specifically to Madame Duplessis -
The recall effort was vanquished the second Bobby vetoed this. Take off your blinders people...no one is getting recalled. It would take a monumental effort and, as history has proven, people are more talk than action.
Unbeleivable, these electred officials are in their own world! I guess they don't listen to radio, tv, or public outcry. As per their own words, they were waiting for word from the govenor, not caring the will of their people.
All hogs at the trough! Out for themselves only.
The recalls must continue to pprove to these people who they work for.
What a shame that every article or quote you read about these yahoos sounds like spoiled kids trying to figure out who to blame for their mistake and how to twist the law. An elected official is a self sserving thief, no exceptions.
Fast talking snake oil salesman who will ram anything down the throats of the people.
None of them have any desire to lead or show any logic to their office. Not once did anyone address the public and say contact your legislator to vote against the raise. They quietly objected to the bill but jumped in line at the trough.
Never forget this and follow them to their reelection and vote them out.
Pompous theives that is what you all are. Liars will lie to liars and all others who will listen. There is no honesty in any of them any more.
"Ms Duplessis vistory wave was a symbol of prayer and thanks to her fatrher!" Yeah right, look at the video and see if any human being ever acted like that at a prayer meeting.
And remember that if CNN hadn't put Jindal on the spot on national tv, theses sleese bums would have gouged the people of the state.
Citizens don't forget and fall inot complacency as has been done in the past.
The battle was won, but the war is still going on!
Chaisson will never be recalled. He is not only a golden child, but of the golden family. His dad was the only Judge I know to ever get a DWI and not a single thing done about it. They are the untouchables!
Wow. It is the lawmakers who should be re-building bridges with those of us who put them in those positions. Gov. Jindal did exactly what he should have done, keep his promise to the taxpayers. He should have done it without a second thought.
And as for Senator Chaisson and the others, well, we are all entitled to our opinions. Next election, I suggest that the taxpayers remember this and make the appropriate changes. It would be nice if we had representatives who actually represented us, and not themselves, for a change.
It was not Chaisson's dad who was pulled over for speeding 85 MPH and then refused the sobriety test. It was his brother, Robert, who was later rewarded by the voters of St. Charles Parish, who voted him in as a judge. The elder Chaisson, who was removed from the bench, was later rewarded by the good ol' boy network with the directorship of the Port of South Louisiana.
The bottom of the barrel, all.
"And as for Senator Chaisson and the others, well, we are all entitled to our opinions. Next election, I suggest that the taxpayers remember this and make the appropriate changes."
That little weenie, Chaisson, is term-limited out. I'm sure he has his eye on something else to keep him at the public trough and in a position of power.
Jindal will not have to mend bridges with the people of LA, he did what the people who voted for him wanted him to do...he listened to the people. For the first time in LA history I think the people's voices were heard loud and clear and someone had the guts to stand up for us. The legislature supposedly also works for the people but they didn't care what the people wanted, what a wonderful public servant attitude to have. We won't forget who you are next election.
"Chaisson needs to remember they were elected to represent us"
Chaisson cannot "remember" this, because it isn't something he ever knew. He has never replied to a single letter, phone call or email from me. I have heard from many others who say the same thing.
Clearly, Chaisson was out to represent himself, his family, his friends and those who could grease the way for him and those others.
"Well if we recall all of them no good scumbags....We will have all new people in there and won't have to rebuild any bridges.
Lets go forward with the recall."
Not all, but definitely Duplessis, Tucker and Chaisson.
Okay, well we have to do our own reps. Chaisson and Monica are mine. So who is up for giving it a try?
Lets win one for the Gipper.
sen. Chaisson ran unopposed in the election. Even if he had someone running against him he wouldve won because that's the st. Charles parish way. He does not return phone calls or emails. He won't be recalled because his family is in the police and law. Who wants to be pulled over all the time? That is what will happen to whomever launches the petition. Sure he's term limited out, but the people of st. Charles will elect another good ol' boy out for themselves to replace him. If they don't I'll be shocked.
Why do people think their point is better made writing in all capital letters?
Also: Why do Americans allow lawmakers to even suggest their wages be indexed to inflation if they're going to impose Republican, "supply side," "trickle-down" wage laws that prohibit indexing the national minimum wage to inflation on the rest of us? The Republican argument is that indexing the minimum wage for everyone would hurt business and by proxy, jobs. Whatever you think about that, it's disgraceful that lawmakers would exempt themselves from the economic principles they apply to the rest of us.
I think they should pass a law banning lawmakers from proposing indexing their own wages to inflation unless they include the federal minimum wage. Simple.
Oops, I need to make a correction. When I say "trickle down" I mean "trickle down the ass cracks of businessmen and lawmakers."
And I might also add that it's unfair that public servants get really good health care plans -- often with no deductibles -- when the rest of us in the "private economy" have to suffer with crappy health care plans with big deductibles.
I think all public servants, and especially lawmakers must have health plans that reflect the "national average". in other words, if the national average health insurance deductible is, say, $1,500 (i don;t know what it is, actually) then lawmakers shoudl have to have $1,500 deductibles.
That would make them more accountable: by indexing their wages, raises, and deductions to a national average so that whatever they do to improve their lot can't be done until they do something to improve our lot.
I don't buy the argument that you have to give them big salaries and benefits in order to retain their "talents". Let them leave. You know they won't because they get all kinds of other supplemental benefits form being lawmakers.
I say call their bluff and raise them :)
We, the people made it very clear what we wanted and what we didn't. Bobby had no choice. You can best believe the smart legislators called Bobby and told him, "I know what you said, but you have to veto the bill to SAVE all of us.
The recall process had begun and I think history was about to made again. It happened in California, and it was gonna happen here but on a larger scale. I think this would have been the largest recall in history.
GOOD JOB PEOPLE.
Jindal has to build bridges????? How arrogant can these legislators be???
They have to build bridges back to us, the people. We need to recall a few to instill the fear of the people in this body. They forget quickly, the night they are elected, that they work for US..we don't work for them.
I said it yesterday and I will say it again.. for the first tim in my life, I see the voters alive and involved. WE are motivated to demand good honest government. We can't let this movement die or atrophy. We must keep it alive. The politicians are counting on us to forget. Will We???
The only bridge to be mended here is the legislators and their constituents. Governor Jindal did what the people of this state elected him for and asked him to do. We should not be held hostage by the elected officials of this state. If they feel that bad about what happened that they can't get over themselves, they need to resign and let us vote in someone who has the welfare of this state in mind instead of the lining of their pockets (and pocketbooks, Ann).
Ok, let me get this straight. Gov. Jindal promised those who voted for him that he would not raise legislatures pay, simultaneously, he promised the legislatures he would not veto a pay raise These promises are clearly both impossible to keep. Jindal has lost all credibility with me and there is nothing he can do at this point to convince me he is any different than the rest of politicians.
First I want to say how very proud I am of the people of Louisiana. We finally made democracy work. Now lets take that energy and use it to make Louisiana better. Cleaning house in the Legislature through recalls is a good start, but whomever we elect will soon revert back to the old system if we the people don't keep an eye on them. That will take an effort on our part. As Thomas Jefferson said -- "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."
They will have to rebuild trust??
What about the promise Jindal made to the people of Louisiana? That was the first promise and he backstroked on that one big time. It took him to see that he was in deep trouble with the people before he changed his mind and hit the Veto Button. Didn't he hear it from day one?? Was he not listening?
He set the promises he made to his public on the side and left it up to the legislature to do the right thing. We saw how that turned out.
Had the people not raised the Recall on Jindal, he would have paid off everyone in the legislature for voting his way and the raises would still be on! They would have been bought.
That's how it works, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
And Jindal was supposed to be different? I don't think so. We saw the proof ourselves!
Do you think he's paying attention now?
While I'm not happy that it took a huge public outcry for the governor to veto this outrageous pay raise, it would only make me more unhappy if the legislature tries to implement some kind of "payback". All of our elected officials should be put on notice that this will not be forgotten, not for a long time, at least until I'm in a voting booth again. I find it incredible, but not surprising, that a Louisiana legislator is unhappy with the governor for not being honest. Start by being honest with your consituents, Mr. Chiasson and Mrs. Peterson. Maybe it will rub off on some of your colleagues.
You all are missing the point
JINDAL lied to the PEOPLE as well as the
legislature. He sitting pretty while we at our
legislators throats. If my boss signs off on my
raise i would expect him to follow through too,
come let's get real people
These people are pigs who need to be removed from their positions. Period.
The elected officials have it backwards. Jindal promised us he would halt any pay raise like the one attempted and then tried to go back on his promise to the voters. The public outcry was such that he was forced to keep his original promise - a promise legislators knew or should have known he made.
For these legislators to raise a credibility or trust issue is reason enough for Jindal to strip them of their legislative leadership positions.
I don't like arrogance and I especially dislike it in morons which is what these legislative officials have proven themselves to be.
You've got to love some of these legislators. They're acting all innocent and hurt. These JACKA$$E$ went ahead and originally proposed a 200% increase to their salaries as soon as Jindal took office (when his campaign focused on things like not approving pay increases for legislators until election year.) It's like they wanted to cause a huge controversy. Well, guess what, they succeeded. Jindal should have been the one that was PI$$ED off because they obviously didn't respect him enough not to propose a huge increase even though they knew his stance.
I don't like the way Jindal handled it, but in the end of the political game, he WON. And that's good, because he did the right thing. Not only did they not get the original proposal, but they didn't get jack!
It seems to me that they had a nice bridge built and these guys decided to jump off by themselves. They need to stop talking about Jindal's "word" and quit proposing ridiculous ideas like this one was. They didn't respect him enough to not propose this and he pretty much paid them back with the late veto (whether he wanted to or not).
There are so many freshman legislatures right now, there's no way that Gov. Jindal won't be able to get them to introduce bills inline with the governors adgenda. The rest of it is just railroading the houses to vote for them. Whoever has the power of the people behind them wins!
beekee,
The problem is that Jindal NEVER signed off on anything. And we all know, until you see something in writing, it's not final. The only thing he signed was the VETO. And no, no one seems to be missing the point. Most people did not like the way Jindal handled this, but he did what was right in the end. The PEOPLE did not want the raise to pass. It doesn't matter what was said before. In the end, the people were just too united to pass the pay raise. That's how it's supposed to work, but rarely does.
Let's be clear, people...
For those of you who disagree with the legislature doubling its own pay and instituting automatic raises, I see your point. But if the position at your job had not see na raise in 28 years, would YOU want that job?
As it stands now, only those who are either independently wealthy or have really cushy jobs can get a pay raise. No one who has to work a 9 to 5, or who wants to maintain a real professional career can serve in the legislature. So that's why we end up with the same old clowns in office. And term limits do nothing to prevent that - it just means we replace old clowns with new ones every four years. I wonder how much Jindal and his staffers get paid? I bet it's MUCH more than twice the amount legislators make.
Perhaps the legislature would have done better to institute a more modest raise, and/or make the rasie effective AFTER their tenures. I also agree that legislators should not set thwir own salaries.
Good job Bobby! So you changed your mind, you can do that, we elected you to make the right decisions!!!!
The politicians in Louisiana have some "Splainen" to do..Why do few companies set up shop or bring in factories or distributions centers into Louisiana, Car factories, steel manufacturers, etc, WHY? Because they go to Charlotte, Austin Texas, Montgomery Alabama, Merryville TN, South Carolina, and on and on and on to places where there are more educated, technically enabled work forces, where excelence begets more excelence.
Our Louisiana politicians are NOT earning the money they now earn much less getting more. THAT IS THE PETER PRINCIPLE, keep giving more raises to the INCOMPETENT. I am not saying ALL are bad, but compare them to other states larger than ours and ask why is our budget larger than that of PENNSYLVANIA, a state FIVE times bigger, with LESS STATE BUDGET THAN LOUISIANA. That is just one example. Why are we paying a STATE INCOME TAX and have the worst services, roads, and infraxtructure in the nation.
Bobby, you got your work cut out for you. I will be behind you all the way. Anyone who does not believe that must remember the IDIOT that preceeded Bobby, she was a JOKE!!!!! Give Bobby a chance, you will see the RIGHT STUFF if the legislatures start exhibiting leadership instead of glad handing the constituants. We are tired of business as usual in Louisiana.
Yesterday on the live chat I asked Mr. Robert Scott who reports on the legislature for the T-P :
http://blog.nola.com/updates/2008/07/live_chat_with_timespicayune_r.html
If this is true, then they are really upset and they will retalliate. However, now we do know who they are.
I was referring to my question on whether or not this was pre-planned.
From TP article above:
"Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, and House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said Jindal's sudden about-face on the pay raise will make it hard for some lawmakers to believe him in the future."
Yea, right, like Carter Peterson has a lot of credibility herself???? Give us a break! Who's she kidding.
At least Jindal DID the right thing after the public voiced theirselves...
"Power to the People"
Be sure to build that bridge with extra strong supports so Queen Ann can get her rather robust rear end across.
This news article demonstrates the arrogance and self serving attitude of these "lawmakers," who aren't even humble enough to realize that they serve only to project the will of the people in their district who elected them.
TUCKER'S RECALL MUST CONTINUE!
HE STILL DOESN'T GET IT.
Excert of TP Story WHERE TUCKER STILL DEFENDS PAYRAISE.
House speaker regrets handling of raise
But higher salaries needed, Tucker says
Wednesday, July 02, 2008By Meghan Gordon
Facing a room full of Algiers constituents, House Speaker Jim Tucker said he regretted the way he and fellow legislators went about their pay raise campaign, but he continued to defend its merits.
"If we had to do it over again, we sure wouldn't do it this way, that's for sure," he told about 100 people at Holy Cross College.
Hmmmm....where to begin again...Yesterday it was Ann "She duped us" Duplessis. Today it is Joel Chaisson. So lemme get 'dis one right: You want Jindal to rebuild trust with you and your cronies for doing and making you do the right thing? I am speechless unless you count my expert use of profanity to describe the absolute stupidity of most of the clowns in BR. But there is humor at the end of the rainbow...One politician (Chaisson) telling another politician to "Just be honest with us". Mr. Chaisson, please was a sheet of legal paper, print out your absurd comment, ball it up and place it, with extreme prejudice, "where the good lawd split ya"
When have any of us had a pay raise that doubled our salaries......especially when we just got a new boss?? The legislators need to just focus on what their job is and to do it CORRECTLY before they try to get another bill passed to increase their pay
"Jindal's sudden about-face on the pay raise will make it hard for some lawmakers to believe him in the future."
I really don't think that these legislators fully understand. They are facing recall and Jindal buckled under because he heard the word,"recall". The recalls that were begun need to followed through. It seems that the message isn't sinking in.
we still need a leg. recall Gov.Jindal needs the back up don't hang him out and then bleame him
RECALL DUPLESSIS AND TUCKER NOW!!! LOPINTO IS ON THE WAY OUT
we still need a leg. recall Gov.Jindal needs the back up don't hang him out and then bleame him
RECALL DUPLESSIS AND TUCKER NOW!!! LOPINTO IS ON THE WAY OUT
Jindal doesn't have to do a damn thing but listen to the people.
He doesn't need to rebuild any bridges...what was on the other side of the bridge wasn't worth crossing over to.
If the legislators whose feelings are hurt don't like it, we the people can fix that for them. They can enter the private sector...if anyone is dumb enough to hire them.
I'm not a Jindal fan, but every member of the legislature should be on their knees thanking him. He took the fall for their stupidity. I did not see one post in favor of the pay raise. This issue has drawn more public opposition than any bill in LA history, yet these pubic servants (that's intentional) voted in favor of it. Without Jindal's veto, even more of these morons would have been subjects of recalls. So instead of whining about the bridges he has to mend, these people should be extremely grateful to Jindal. But again, they're Louisiana politicians, so there's the reason why they don't know the difference.
I love the way these legislators can never accept blame for THEIR wrongdoings. Just blame Jindal, of course! Sorry, folks, if the shoe fits, then wear it!!
Duplessis is a MORON!!!! She either needs to be recalled or not re-elected in 3.5 years!!!!!!!!
Of course, we said the same thing about Jefferson and where is he sitting - in Congress!!!
As the old saying goes - you get what you pay for!!!!!!!!! These 2 individuals need to be at the bottom of the list for re-election. There are better qualified candidates in these districts that can actually get the job done without having all this distraction!
Yeh, Karen Carter is really hurting driving around town in her new Jaguar!
What she doesn't tell TP is that she is of counsel for the local utility board and profits from no-bid “sweetheart” contracts with the New Orleans City Council as their legal advisor for utility regulation.
THIS SHOULD COME OUT at her next election.
For all those who are not familiar with the legislative process Gov. Jindal has to respect the legislature. They are 3 branches of governmant and guess what the legislature is one. They coontrol the budget, they run the state; in essence they are the CEO's of the state and Jindal is just the COO (chief operating officer). Jindal does not vote on legislation. Words of wisdom "Jindal is playing russian roulette with the citizens of this state."
Remeber it was the legislature that gave Jindal buddies their big pay raises. Jindal put his name on the line for his good ole boys and when the legislatures advised him on their pay he said if yall don't mess with my boys I won't get involved in legislative business. He needs to veto the pay raises of his staff.
RE TWAINHEARN COMMENTS BELOW:
"Note to Morons in OUR legislature who pushed through outrageous rewards for a thus failed recovery...
The people have the governor's back and are going to hold you accountable with your shenanigans!!
Now resign, or, focus on inclusive, just recovery."
-------------------------------------------------
Well said!!!!! My sentiments exactly!!!!!!!
Thank you Twainhearn!!
Too harsh on these men/women we elected. Afterall they worked really hard to pass a bill to make a nasty tasting cocktail the State coctail. This is progress. We should be proud of our lawmakers. Really, this is a step foward for our image around the country.
His wife lives in texas. You mean she drives to N.O. that many times to eat out with him? Pretty expensive dinner, just count the miles/gas.
No wonder he tries to get the city to pay for the meals.
These legislators are morons!! I wonder how many are Tulane graduates? LOL
The LEGES have to rebuild the bridge. Those IDIOTS got embarassed by their own greed. Does anyone ever add in the FREE Tulane scholarship that they each recieve to dole out for personal gain, equity, favors ?
If you add it all up, they are STILL recieving over $ 100,000.00 in compensation for 50 days work.
If they can't live with it - RESIGN.
You know what? Now I am at a loss for words.
Who do these lawmakers in Baton Rouge think they are? Ain't nobody got to repair relationships with these idiots. I was willing to forgive and forget. but now now. I'll sign any recall out there, to get this bunch of cry babies out of here.
They all "begged" for these jobs and now their little feelings are hurt, 'cause they got their little butts slapped. The more than moan and groan the more they are going to get booted out.
These people think they can go to Baton Rouge with some kind of "immunity" from the voters.
We put your butts there and we can kick your butts out....just keep it up!!
Awwww.....
These Poor pitiful would be- THIEVES... and miscreants had their widdle feelings hurt!
It was perfectly all right for the governor to break trust with the VOTERS.... we already know what these clowns think of US... but to "break trust" with this tin-plated delusional figures of godhead.... well... that's just INEXCUSABLE... As it is Jindal has a lot of "patching up" to do if he EVER wants my trust again, because I DO believe this was both politically motivated, and politically expedient for him to do.... but these pompous arrogant, self-righteous HYPOCRITES whining about how he "betrayed" them is just beyond the pale!
Makes me want to cry a river for them... they can all go to hell! And I DEARLY hope they ARE UNSEATED in the next elections.
EnuffBS
The people of Algiers got played last night. They should have jumped all over these idiots, but they layed down like sheep.
STAND UP to these jerks.
nolastyle wrote:
Yeh, Karen Carter is really hurting driving around town in her new Jaguar!
What she doesn't tell TP is that she is of counsel for the local utility board and profits from no-bid “sweetheart” contracts with the New Orleans City Council as their legal ad visor for utility regulation.
THIS SHOULD COME OUT at her next election.
--------------------------------------------
Yea, I've heard this also. Another greedy pig elitist politician that can't get enough at the trough.
HEY LAWMAKERS!!
How about REBUILDING the BRIDGE with the VOTERS first?
*** TOWN HALL MEETING on ETHICS***
How about conducting a few town hall meetings on ethics around the city and the state on a "regular basis" so citizens can get in touch with their local representatives and senators on what their voted and also on budget issues and funding and also what happened on the say past 3 months?
Town Hall Meetings on Ethics every 3 months for the New Orleans area and every 4 or 6 months outside of New Orleans
Heck, let's make it a law and put it in the constitution? And tie it to pay raise of course.
How ironic. Politicians saying "their word is their bond". Jeezam, everyone knows when their lips are mving they're lying!
LAOne is in a little over his head comparing the functions of corporations to state government.
The governor exercises legitimate and constitutional legislative functions with the ability to veto bills and the ability to line item veto budget items. The legislature can over ride a veto with a 2/3 majority and it does happen on occasion but not as a general rule. The governor can “freeze” an individual legislator out of the process and block projects in his or her district. In years past, governors have blocked highway maintenance and construction projects in some districts, you could see a road overlay project end at the district line. There are too many legislators with their own individual “issues” to keep their thumb on the governor.
The legislature is more like the Board of Directors and the voters of the State are the shareholders, with the board members being elected for 4 year terms.
The governor is clearly the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company.
For the poster who stated that Joel Chaisson's brother Robert was voted judge in St. Charles Parish, you have to remember who he was running against. Randy O. Lewis is the most crooked sob in the parish. So crooked that he has NEVER won an election in his life. Would you want a judge with a drug addict hoodlum for a son?
The Governor needs to repair bridges???? The morons in the Legislature, the majority of whom can not speak English, need to deal with their employers first. Who might the employers be??? You guessed it! WE ARE THIER EMPLOYERS. One other thing. This business of voting two and three times in the Legislature has got to stop. I believe that is called fraud and should be treated as a crime.
I support Jindal a 1000% and agree to recalling those who are opposed to our leader.
Nola4550, I didn't say that McPherson should be recalled for expressing his opinion. He said that Jindal had turned lawmakers against him and we don't need lawmakers who are against or for the Governor. We need lawmakers who are there to focus on doing what is right for Louisiana.
It's not the governor that need's to rebuild the trust it's the legislators, STUPID!!!!!!!!!!
One thing tht I can say about the legislators though, is they ARE THE MASTERS OF SPIN!!!!